Nurse

Nurse

School
nurses are trained to provide on-site services that are culturally
sensitive, focused on prevention and wellness, and to be effective
outreach and medical liaisons between the school, students, family, and
health care providers. They act as educational catalysts by helping to
promote, plan, and implement successful school-wide programs to improve
learning readiness.

Each
Seattle Public Schools' school nurse has completed a four-year
bachelor's degree in nursing, holds a current Registered Nurse license,
and is required to have a Washington State Educational Staff Associate
(ESA) certificate. Many school nurses have advanced degrees and
additional health education training. Seattle school nurses are also
required to hold valid American Red Cross CPR and First Aid cards.
Comprehensive preparation is increasingly important as more and more
students are attending school with severe and/or life-threatening
medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, and food allergies),
injuries, or birth defects.

Besides caring for students who become injured or ill at school, school nurses also:

conduct state-mandated vision, hearing and scoliosis screening

act on direction from the Health Department to prevent communicable diseases and respond to disease outbreaks